GameFly/Netflix relationship

I'm not sure if this has been posted already, but I believe that Netflix and GameFly are owned by the same company.  I just know that I used to get GameFly free trials in my netflix envelopes and I doubt that that would happen unless they were in cahoots (in a business sense) with one another.
 
Just listened to last weeks cast and heard someone say that netflix should just buy gamefly, but I think that gamefly was just born of netflix.

I dont think they are owned by the same company.  In fact, I believe from what I have read that the guys who started Gamefly came up with their idea and secured capital funding before Netflix was founded.
I think on the Podcast, they were hoping gamefly would expand as much as netflix has, and if netflix bought them, then they could use their shipping centers, because I think Gamefly has 4 while Netflix has a lot more.  Netflix ships out a movie and you get it the next day.  With Gamefly, its not so fast.  But they did hit a good point.  Games do not have a good shelf-life, and people forget them quickly and move on.  They are not like movies where you can go back to play them.  Right now, you can't rent a game on Gamefly that wasn't made before 2000, I think.  You dont go back to play classic games like you go back to watch classic movies.  And when you do, its because you own the game or it comes in a new modern form, like Xbox Live Arcade or a remake on a portable console.  Gamefly could be bigger but the video game business is really tricky.

The internet gives easy answers to this question.  Netflix and Gamefly are two separate companies founded and run by different people.  They have a business relationship, in that Gamefly buys advertising on the Netflix fliers.
 
Business information can be found on the Other Wiki: 
Netflix
Gamefly
 
As for Netflix buying Gamefly, I would love it if I could get both games and movies from a single subscription.  It would be a great feature, though I do not see it happening anytime soon.

Netflix has  actually stated that it has no intention of merging with Gamefly. The two services are separate and, for all intents and purposes, will stay that way.  As for expecting Netflix like service from Gamefly... it's just not a reality. Netflix deals with $15-$20 pieces of media, in incredibly high demand all over the country, and that take on average 2 hours to watch/use before you're done. Gamefly deals with $60+ pieces of media, that aren't in nearly as much demand, and that people want to keep out and play for hours and hours or days and days. It just can't be like Netflix and be  profitable. 
 
All things considered, for what Gamefly does they've managed to do it exceptionally well. When brick and mortar stores are dropping like flies they continue to grow and expand.

" ...GF's apparently limited resources (you have to get pretty lucky to get a hot new release for months on end - but of course everyone is paying $ a month to rent everything instead of paying $$$ to buy every new game).  That said, this holiday is making me seriously consider rejoining lol... "